Whether you are picking wine for a private event, celebration, a pairing, or for 
your very own wine cellar, I am available for personal wine consulting and training. As a Chicago sommelier, I have an understanding of both the retail and purchasing sides of the business. I also have over ten years in the restaurant business, dealing with both food and beverage.
I have selected wines and food, counseled on wine lists, and conducted seminars and tastings (some blind tastings as well). Menu, dessert, and cheese pairings can be customized and arranged by WCWG.
Here is a small list of the many services offered:
- Tastings- wine, beer, cheese, blind, perfect pairings
- Events- corporate, anniversaries, birthdays, parties
- Consultation- bar or restaurant inventory building, wine list construction, building and stocking personal cellars, or just picking out a bottle of wine
- Seminars- corporate staff Wine 101 training, restaurant or bar staff training, casual education
- Entertaining- certified sommelier onhand
Looking for the perfect wine(s) for your celebration (wedding, anniversary, birthday, etc.)? Need a menu/wine pairing drawn up for a special dinner? Stocking your personal cellar, wine bar or restaurant? Need a sommelier onhand to impress your collegues, friends or family? I will use my experience as a wine expert and mixologist to help customize any event.
Be assured that you have a professional, experienced, and knowledgeable sommelier at your disposal! Let me know what you are looking for and I’d be happy to create a customized solution for you.
Contact me: windycitywineguy@gmail.com or (708)205-9493
What others have said:
Wine Inventory Creation for New Business (Over 200 Selections)
“Kudos to The Windy City Wine Guy! I started a retail wine shop/wine bar in late November. Having to choose my opening inventory was a daunting task – especially since I didn’t have my liquor license until two weeks before I opened! I hired Michael to be my
wine consultant and help me in choosing which wines to carry. I knew I wanted the majority to be organic, mid-priced and from smaller, lesser known wineries. The choices he made for me were great! My customers (and I) love them and the store has been successful since the day it opened. His knowledge of the wine industry was invaluable.”
-Catherine Williams, Catbridge Wine Cellars
On-the-Spot Wine Recommendations
“I was in a real pinch. I am no wine expert by any stretch of the imagination and I had a holiday party to attend where I know the people there would know the difference between good and bad wine. I reached out to Michael via Twitter (@WCWineGuy) and asked for a recomendation. He got back to me right away with the perfect Pinot Noir for under $25. I got at least 5 compliments on the wine, it was awesome! Thanks Michael!”
-Scott M.
“What a fantastic evening, and what a beautiful location! Jeff and I really did learn a lot, I had no idea that chianti was so strictly regulated. Plus, the wine and cheese pairings were phenomenal. I never particularly enjoyed a sauvignon blanc, but the goat cheese really changed how the wine tasted. I never would have tried that on my own. Really glad we came and definitely looking forward to the next one!”
-Carolyn T.
“Thanks Michael – The event provided me with an opportunity to ask the novice questions I always am afraid to ask. Removing the snobbery from wine and enjoying eats with friends is definitely a worthwhile evening.Look forward to the next event.”
-Andy A.
[...] This week’s pick is offered by the Windy City Wine Guy, Michael Bottigliero. Michael tells everyone he knows about the Firehouse Red form Tamarack [...]